#26300
Machine Translation: General Overview 
This chapter introduces the main concepts and methods used for machine translation systems from the beginnings of research in the 1950s until about 1990; it covers the main approaches of rule-based systems (direct, interlingua, transfer, knowledge based), and the principal translation tools; and it concludes with a brief historical sketch.
Hutchins, W. John. Oxford Univ Press (2003). Articles>Language>Localization>Machine Translation
#29662
Managing Translations: Achieving Quality by Coordinating All Available Resources
Technical communicators have many potential advantages for managing the translation process. When the translation process is outsourced, the technical communicator can ensure that the translators have access to all the resources necessary to achieve quality documents. The same resources used to create the source document will be valuable resources to a translator. Also, the SME team can become an essential part of ensuring the quality and completeness of the translated documentation.
Poiré, Elisabeth. STC Proceedings (2005). Articles>Language>Translation>Technical Translation
#28285
The New European Standard for Translation Services
The new European standard DIN EN 15038 on translation services will become effective on August 1, 2006.
TC World (2006). Articles>Language>Standards>Technical Translation
#25823
On Dictionaries: A Conversation with Ilan Stavans
An interview with the Lewis-Sebring Professor of Latin American and Latino Culture at Amherst College.
Albin, Verónica. Translation Journal (2005). Articles>Language>Translation
#25819
On Idioms, Intertextuality, Puddings, and Quantum Physics (all of them in simultaneous, please) 
These notes were triggered by an anecdote recently reported by trainee interpreters at the European Court of Justice (ECJ). The anecdote has to do with the way interpreters handle idiomatic expressions and more generally what is known as "culture-bound" items, or realia.
Marzocchi, Carlo. Translation Journal (2005). Articles>Language>Translation
#30536
Planning for Translation: What We've Learned the Hard Way
For software products to succeed in the international marketplace, the documentation team needs to plan for translation from the beginning of product development. Experience shows that the following factors can contribute to the elusive goal of simultaneous release of software domestically and internationally: early freeze of the product interface, a well-thought-out translation plan, agreed-upon procedures and goals, standard tools for creating art and text files, and early editing. This paper gives practical tips for avoiding problems in translation.
Russell, Anne and Monet Thomson. STC Proceedings (1993). Articles>Language>Translation>Localization
#25816
The objective of this paper is to demonstrate the great power of film translation. This aim is accomplished by presenting the major modes of film translation, their world distribution and history, which are then followed by an analysis of dubbing and subtitling from the perspective of domestication and foreignisation.
Szarkowska, Agnieszka. Translation Journal (2005). Articles>Language>Translation>Video
#25788
Preparing Your Web Site for Machine Translation
Machine translation is a sophisticated technology. However, it is not as sophisticated as human language. Understanding how MT works on the Web helps designers and developers prepare Web pages for MT. Preparatory tactics improve the usability of MT output.
O'Connell, Theresa A. IBM (2001). Articles>Language>Localization>Machine Translation
#25815
¿Qué Traducción? Los Métodos de Traducción en el Análisis Contemporáneo
Todavía no existe uniformidad por indicar un método universal ni una explicación al fenómeno de la entropía, la fatal pérdida de significado que ocurre siempre que pasamos de un texto a otro. Tradicionalmente, para superar este obstáculo, se ha intentado encontrar aquella equivalencia dinámica de la que habla Nida, guardando el mensaje y no la forma del original.
Francesconi, Armando. Translation Journal (2005). (Spanish) Articles>Language>Translation
#23461
The language industries are rapidly embracing the use of translation tools such as automatic terminology lookup, terminology mining, terminology consistency checkers, and machine translation. Authoring tools that involve access to a termbase are also appearing, at least in the context of controlled language, but will over time no doubt also be used in the authoring processes where the syntax is less controlled.
Wright, Sue Ellen. TC-FORUM (1999). Articles>Language>Localization>Machine Translation
#25713
Should I Use Machine Translation?
Machine translation is somewhat like the child who, when good, was very nice to have around but who, when bad, was just awful. For some guidance in deciding whether machine translation is likely to succeed in your particular environment.
Melby, Alan K. TTT (1995). Articles>Language>Translation>Machine Translation
#29692
Testing Translated Information Across Twelve Languages, Three Continents, and Five Time Zones
When budget constraints prevent bringing overseas testers to the development lab to verify product translation, Web conferencing sessions allow the testers to work in their own countries but still communicate directly with the lab.
Varin, Amy. STC Proceedings (2005). Articles>Language>Translation>Localization
#26297
Towards a Definition of Example-Based Machine Translation
The example-based approach to MT is becoming increasingly popular. However, such is the variety of techniques and methods used that it is difficult to discern the overall conception of what example- based machine translation (EBMT) is and/or what its practitioners conceive it to be. Although definitions of MT systems are notoriously complex, an attempt is made to define EBMT in contrast to other MT architectures (RBMT and SMT).
Hutchins, W. John. IAMT (2005). Articles>Language>Localization>Machine Translation
#30342
Translation and the Technical Writer
As more companies sell in the global market and recognize the importance of customer service and satisfaction, they are beginning to realize the importance of translating software and documentation into foreign languages. Once your own company realizes that it needs to translate its documentation, to whom will it turn for project management? You, of course. The technical writer is in an ideal position to control the translation of documentation and the textual element of software.
Tunsley, Roger A. Boston Broadside (1993). Articles>Language>Translation>Technical Writing
#24951
Translation Memory 2004: Room to Grow
In 2002, LISA examined Translation Memory (TM) usage and trends. In 2004, LISA returned to the subject with an expanded survey that revisited the questions of 2002 and added questions on specific tool use and interest in new developments of TM. The report, The LISA 2004 Translation Memory Survey, is available free of charge from the LISA website. In this interview, we asked Arle Lommel, LISA’s Publications Manager and author of the survey report, about the significance of the findings and what they mean for the industry.
Lommel, Arle. LISA (2004). Articles>Language>Localization>Machine Translation
#25817
Translation Problems in Modern Russian Society
The development of trade and industry has always given rise to changes in the evolution of communities, bringing about new social forms and stratification of society. This in its turn accelerated the appearance of businesses and factories, arrival of new professions, and urbanization. Since the times of Perestroika (which was started in 1989 by Mikhail Gorbatchev) Russian society has been experiencing dramatic changes that affected the country's politics, economy and social life. In the past 15 years people's attitudes to certain things have changed gradually but profoundly. We have gotten so used to these new attitudes that it's hard to believe it hasn't always been like this.
Khutyz, Irina. Translation Journal (2005). Articles>Language>Translation>Russia
#23480
Two Years Later: The Triumphs, Trials and Tribulations of Life
Looking at escalating costs and short deadlines for foreign-language documentation, we decided over two years ago that the time had come for a hands-on study of translation tools and their practical benefits. Machine-translation systems such as Systran and Logos were not an option; instead, we directed our attention toward Translation Memory tools.
Kreitmeier, Peter. TC-FORUM (1998). Articles>Language>Localization>Machine Translation
#18695
Understanding and Planning for Translation Services
The past decade has seen significant advances in machine-translation (MT) technology. While MT is still a ways off its goal of replacing human translators, today it is used successfully in several industry sectors (incl. automotive, aerospace, defense) with lots of documentation to be translated.
Heuberger, Andres. TECHWR-L (2002). Articles>Language>Localization>Machine Translation
#24168
Machine translation has improved greatly over the years, but one type of human communication, figurative language, remains difficult for computers to tackle. When we hear 'You can lead a horse to water but you can’t make him drink,' we know that the speaker is probably commenting on human, not equine, nature.
Intercom (2004). Articles>Language>Localization>Machine Translation
#30349
What to Expect from a Translation Agency
Leverage, CAT, translation memory, and aligning are quite interrelated and build on each other in the process.
Musgray, Uta. Boston Broadside (1997). Articles>Language>Translation>Localization
#25712
Why Can't a Computer Translate More Like a Person?
Translation is difficult, even for people. To begin with, you have to know two languages intimately. And even if you speak two or more languages fluently, it is not a trivial matter to produce a good translation.
Melby, Alan K. TTT (1995). Articles>Language>Translation>Machine Translation
#32206
Using a process called localization, language professionals translate the source document’s words and adapt its content to the needs and norms of the target country or market. Because language professionals can work only with what they are given, the document’s creator is partly responsible for ensuring the localization process is effective. After all, poorly written English cannot be turned into good Japanese.
Giovanis, Kristen. TechCom Manager (2006). Articles>Language>Localization>Translation
#32220
Translation and Localization Options
How do you identify the many options available for localizing your products or materials, and how do you select the right ones for your company?
Johnson, Dan. TechCom Manager (2005). Articles>Language>Localization>Translation
#32274
Lost in Translation: Contributions of Editors to the Meanings of Text 
Authors of scientific articles in one language are often required to provide abstracts of their papers in a second language, and they use a variety of ways to achieve this.
Hartley, James, Alan Branthwaite, Frank Ganier and Laurent Heurley. Journal of Information Science (2007). Articles>Language>Editing>Translation
#33821
Evaluation of International English and Machine Translation
Machine translation often gives humorous translations or incorrect translations. Usually, a bad translation is because the source text is not clear in a way that a machine can 'understand'. If text is optimised for machine translation, machine translation gives excellent results. There are two sets of texts. The first set is written in standard English. The second set is equivalent to the standard English text, but it is optimised for machine translation. Google Translate was used to translate the texts into Bulgarian and into Spanish.
Unwalla, Mike. TechScribe (2009). Articles>Language>Localization>Machine Translation
